AGUA DULCE TOWN COUNCIL Regular Meeting of Wednesday, November 20, 2019 APPROVED MINUTES ***Due to scheduling conflicts, this meeting is one week later than usual*** Agua Dulce Women’s Club 33201 Agua Dulce Canyon Rd, Agua Dulce, CA Council Members Present: President-Don Henry (DH), Secretary-Mary Johnson (MJ), Treasurer-Troy Fosberg (TF) arrived at 6:40 PM, Clerk-Ed Porter (EP) arrived at 7:00 PM, Candy Clemente (CC), Scott Keller (SK), Lou Vince (LV) Council Members Absent: Community Members: About 150 community members in attendance inside and on porch. PA system inside and outside. TOPIC/DISCUSSION MOTION RESULT/ DECISION ADMINISTRATIVE MEETING: Regular Council Operations: 6:30 PM: 1. Call to order by DH at 6:33 PM 2. MSP: Move to Approve Agenda as Submitted M: CC 5-0-0 S: MJ 3. MSP: Move to Approve Minutes of Regular Meeting of October 9, 2019 as submitted M: LV 5-0-0 S: CC 4. Council Reports: A. President Report i. General: ii. Outgoing Correspondence: a. Letter to Zoe International outlining community concerns regarding their project sent 10/16/19 b. Letter to Dept of Public Health/Environmental Health regarding the annual fee for conventional OWTS sent 10/16/19 iii. Incoming Correspondence: See Community Meeting, Item 10.A. B, C., and D. a. Reply from Deputy Director of Public Works regarding Safe Clean Water Program A. Future agenda item: Bruce Hamamoto of Public Works and Santa Clara River Watershed Area Steering Committee possibly January 2020 iv. Miscellaneous Incoming & Webmail: a. Agenda Request: Acton Agua Dulce Unified School District: Superintendent King: standing agenda item, monthly “State of the District” b. Agenda Request: Graffiti Abatement Program Manager: Ari DeChellis possibly January 2020 c. Agenda Request: Water Talks: Integrated Regional Water Management Plan, Heather Merenda, Environmental Services, City of Santa Clarita: Future Agenda Item d. Webmail: Code Violation Inquiry at 4965 Sweetwater Drive (referred to Regional Planning) B. Secretary Report: Liability Insurance policy reinstatement C. Treasurer’s Report i. Election Committee Account: a. Beginning Balance: $2,239.00 b. Candidate fees deposited $200.00 c. Ending Balance: $2,439.00 ii. General Account a. Beginning Balance: $2,314.25 Page 1 of 6 b. State Farm Insurance paid: $252.96 c. California Bank Overdraft Fee refund deposited: $12.05 d. Ending Balance: $2,073.34 iii. Combined Account Ending Balance: $4,512.34 D. Association of Rural Town Councils: October 30, 2019 i. County Housing Initiatives, LA County Community Climate Action Plan, Clean Power Alliance, Senate Bill 100-CA Renewables Portfolio Standard Program, ARTC Election 2020, Public At in Private Development. E. Other: Request from iLEAD Agua Dulce 6th Grade project Birth of Democracy. Speak to students regarding local government and any ideas on how the students can get involved. MJ will attend. COMMUNITY MEETING: Reports and Presentations: 7:00 PM: Open to Public 5. Call to order by DH at 7:00 PM. Pledge of Allegiance & Flag Salute led by LV and Moment of Silence in honor of the shooting tragedy at Saugus High School 6. Agency Reports A. California Highway Patrol/Cops Team: Officer Hallgren: Absent (arrived later during SCE presentation—no report) B. Los Angeles County Sheriff Resident Deputy: Deputy Martinez: Regarding PSPS events, be prepared and look out for your neighbors. C. Los Angeles County Fire Dept/Community Service Rep: Maria Grycan: Absent: October Stats: 5 fires: 1 brush fire ¼ acre, 3 vehicle fires, 1 trash fire. 31 EMS, 10 good intent. D. Acton-Agua Dulce Library: Librarian Jim Wall: Absent: Announcements: Gingerbread Geometry, Saturday, Dec 7, 12-2 PM. Red Cross Blood Drive, December 27, 9 am to 4 pm. SCE PSPS resulted in the Library being closed 10/28, 10/30, and 10/31. Bootlegger Circuit. E. Other 7. Fifth District Report: Stephanie English: Nicole Vartanian: Supervisor Barger motion supporting public health that Meal Service Delivery should be sealed. Rising mortality rate among the homeless population. Supervisor Barger is aware of the PSPS problems. The Supervisor contacted the Chairman of SCE to come to a meeting to answer questions and concerns. 8. CA 38th Assembly District Assemblymember Christy Smith: Letter sent to Governor Newsome expressing grave concerns regarding SCE’s PSPS asking for reassessment and immediate action, citing business losses and hardships for residents. In attendance to listen to residents and concerns. 9. CA 21st Senate District Senator Scott Wilk: Regarding PSPS-The “new normal” is not acceptable. Stated the PSPS investigation launched by the California Public Utilities Commission is ludicrous since it is the CPUC’s job to know what SCE is doing. Asked for an independent state auditor to investigate. Without a federal representative because of the resignation of Congresswoman Katie Hill, he requested FEMA assistance. SCE is reconsidering claims. If you had a claim denied, resubmit. For those charged for service during PSPS, SCE has indicated those bills will be corrected. He and Assemblyman Lackey rented a generator for a local resident on oxygen. He indicated his feeling that “PSPS is PSBS.” He understands the community’s pain and he will listen and take action. 10. CA 36th Assembly District Assemblymember Tom Lackey: Brandon Roque, Filed Representative: Attending the meeting to listen and will take back comments and concerns to Assemblyman Lackey. 11. Presentations/Discussions: A. SCE: Report on PSPS events: October 10-October 11, October 24-October 25, October 28, October 30-October 31. Liz Seelman, SCE Local Public Affairs, Erik Takayesu, Vice President (Transmission, Substations, & Operations), Robert Quintero, Director, Local Public Affairs, Bob Stiens, Local Public Affairs: DH read the list of concerns submitted to SCE after the PSPS events: communication failures-internet, cell service, digital phone & TV service, access to well water, extended length of outages, impacts to population reliant on powered medical equipment, impacts to schools, business losses, emergency service communication failures, impacts to livestock, perishable items, inconsistent notification process, home insurance consequences, property value decreases, lack of heat during cold temps, costs of being prepared, continuing maintenance, oversight, well being and security of residents are jeopardized, Page 2 of 6 consequences to SCE if PSPS were eliminated, and what triggers a PSPS. Liz Seelman: Significant impacts in October with 4 PSPS events and acknowledged the hardships to the community. SCE provided a generator and supplies to the Agua Dulce Women’s Club for public use. A water tanker to be provided in the future. Claims are being re-evaluated and reviewing billing statements. Goal is to reduce necessity and reduce impacts. Erik Takayesu: Agua Dulce is Tier 3 fire risk—high fire danger. SCE is placing weather stations and hi-def cameras in community. Increased vegetation management, sectionalizing of circuits and insulating wires. Maintenance outages will continue as SCE hardens the grid over the next few years. Bob Stiens: October had extreme red flag warnings. 3 categories of information determine the need for PSPS: 1. Weather information from SCE’s weather stations and other data such as the condition of potential fuel. 2. Computer modeling. 3. Field crews with handheld weather stations with real time statistics and LA County emergency centers. Notification process has improved. 4-7 days out, monitors are in the get ready stage. 72 hours notification to public safety partners, sheriff, fire, etc. 48 hours notification to customers. Registered critical care customers are notified by phone 2 times. If no answer, SCE does a personal visit. Website has been updated. Better maps. You can enter an address to see if you are affected. Better notification for those with a master meter. Zip code alerts and partnering with Next Door app. Telecommunications companies get early notification so they can prepare for outages. Community Comments: 30+ attendees spoke to voice their concerns. CC indicated Santa Ana winds are not a new occurrence to Agua Dulce. Questioned if SCE is loyal to their customers or investors. Seniors citizens not physically able to get fully prepared. Looking for access to list of local residents dependent on power medical devices. SCE subjecting community to third world country conditions. Limit outages to 6 hours. Liability for losses during PSPS. PSPS brings hardships: no heat, no security, loss of food and medications. Many people can’t afford generators. Anxiety and emotional trauma when the wind blows. Schools and businesses forced to close. SCE Tips page needs to be updated. Has something changed in the infrastructure that is not disclosed? Lower voltage with the existing technology. Need for dedicated well pump service at Agua Dulce Airport for helicopter fire fighting ability. Water haulers have issues with CARB (older non-compliant trucks) and question of renewal of Conditional Use Permits. People may accidentally start fires because of PSPS conditions. Victim of Tick Fire plans to rebuild. Has 13 acres with a 200’ cleared perimeter. No power, no sprinklers, no ability to fight fire. Home destroyed. Another victim of Tick Fire with brush clearance-Home destroyed because of no power for well water. Horrible precedent for the country. SCE does not give people a fighting chance. No one from SCE has reached out. Communication was poor. Generators not affordable for all. Vegetation both above and below power lines need to be cleared. Malibu area was only without power for a short time. DWP is not turning off power Santa Ana winds nothing new to area. No communication means to way to get help. Unacceptable. Tick Fire started by an outdoor bbq in use because of no power in house. SCE is responsible for Tick Fire. SCE has responsibility to deliver safe electricity. SCE had corporate offices raided in 1997 looking or evidence that SCE was responsible for a 1996 fire. Class action suit may be required.